Married to the Alpha

Chapter Two: Black Wolf

|MARIA|

"W-Why are you here!" my mom asked in tremor when she saw me entering the kitchen. I gritted my teeth because of that. I can’t tell what I’ve been feeling right now. Angry? Disappointed? Upset? Remorse? I don't even know!

But seeing mom’s reaction when she saw me, it was like she really knows the deal Aunt Helen was talking about before I storm out from the mansion and run as fast as I can to arrive here. And now, she isn't expecting me to be here!

I bit my lower lip. So it’s true then. It’s true that she used me as payment of her debt to the Lancasters.

But why? I'm a f*****g human!

My eyes stopped at the used plates on our old dining table. She started to collect it, ignoring my presence completely, and immediately put it on the sink. I followed her every moves, not planning to take away my eyes on her.

Then I realized that I arrived on time. They've just finished eating their dinner without even waiting for me, which is really odd to happen. We always eat together, completely, since I got home. No one is being left behind. But now, what happened? Did she really expect that I'm not going home this night and the rest of the nights? That I will stay in that freaking mansion? That I don't have a freaking choice but obey what she had said?!

I stop blaming her in my mind. Thinking about the possibility hurts me more.

I close my eyes and swallowed the lump that starting to form in my throat. I need to prepare myself in asking her about what I've heard from Aunt Helen. I need to confirm every single thing. I badly need to know the truth!

I opened my mouth to say everything that was on my mind but it seems that I can't find my voice to ask it.

What if Aunt Helen is just jesting around? What if she isn’t telling the truth? But why would Aunt Helen lie to me? For the past years I’ve known her, she isn’t the type of person who would lie about something important. And I can really tell which person is saying the truth or not unless she's really good at it?

I took a deep breath. Countless of what if's started to run into my mind. This usually happens whenever I panicked. My mind started to haywire and jump into so many conclusions.

I cleared my throat and open my eyes. I need to ask my mom about the deal. I need her to tell me the truth.

"Is i-it true, mom?" I was finally able to ask. I pressed my lips together when I stammered.

 My mom didn't answer my question. I tried to ask her again but I stopped when she suddenly faced me.

“What a-are you talking a-about?" she asked in return. She leaned her back on the sink; both hands gripped the edge of the kitchen counter.

 "T-That…" I can't seem to find a word to ask about the deal right away. I swallowed hard ad inhaled deeply. “Did I heard Aunt Helen right? That you..." I couldn't finish what I was about to ask when a tear fell down on my eye. I immediately wipe it away. I bit my lower lip to stop myself from crying but it doesn't help anything.

I heard my mom’s heavy sigh. Instead of answering, she turned her back to me and continued what she was doing, like she did not hear a thing from me. The noise made by the dishes woke me from the trance

My heart starts to beat erratically. Oh, God. No. No. No! Please deny it, mom.

"Mom," I called, almost pleading. I wanted her to tell me everything, face to face. I wanted her to refuse everything I know. I wanted her to tell me that all of it was a lie, that I am just dreaming, or maybe I just can't comprehend what Aunt Helen had said. I wanted to hear that from her.

But her silence broke the hope I was trying to build.

She ignored me, again. I even heard how she let out a deep sigh. Her whole attention was on the dishes she’s putting on the cupboards. That triggered me to walk toward her direction, desperately wanted to hear her answers. But I stopped midway when she turn around and face me again.

I was expecting to see her guilt expression. I was expecting her immediate embrace, telling me that all I'm saying wasn’t true.

My mother is a very kind person. I could tell that by how she took care of us. I never saw her angry. She was gentle, and a loving mother. That's why I was surprised when I saw the fury and sorrow plastered in her eyes right now.

 “Why are you here?! Why did you even dare to come back?” she started. I saw how her eyes glistened as she spat those words. “I am hoping that you’re finally staying at that mansion after knowing the truth! You should be disappointed by now! What will happen if they suddenly took the money—“ She stopped herself before she could even finish what she has to say, and forced herself to look away from me.

 "So… it's true then?" I said, and couldn’t help but laugh sarcastically at her outburst. The tears continue to stream down my face. "That I am really…the payment to all of y-your debts to the Lancasters?!" I almost shouted which came out unrespectable.

I bit my lower lip when I realized what I just did. Instead of answering, my mom ignored my questions and turned her back to me. But I got to glimpse of her eyes. I know that look. She's hurting and she’s guilty of what she did.

 Then if she's hurting and guilty, why did she do that in the first place? Why chose me as a payment to her debt? I know we can still find other ways to pay for it right?

 She busied herself from wiping the counter and arranging some things that I usually do instead of her. And now, she's the one who's doing it, and maybe she'll be the one who'll do it for the next days, or next months or... even years.

Your mom is indirectly telling you that the deal is real, Maria. Do you intend to smack your head first before you realized the bitter truth?!

But I just can't accept the fact that my mom was able to sell me, and she was able to make me a payment to her debt! It’s like that I am not her... daughter! That I am no important to her! Why? Did I do something wrong? Did I disappoint her? Doesn't she love me? Why do I feel like I was just a thing that is easy to be disregarded?

"Mom," I plead for her presence and answers. It seems she couldn’t take my presence and assertion anymore that she suddenly stopped whatever she was doing and violently faced me.

 "Yes! It's true!” she bursts out. “You're my payment to my debt to the Lancaster family! And I don't care if you hate me because of doing that! I will not change my mind if you let me understand some...reasons! I don’t care! And I didn't regret doing it either!" she continued as her tears started to stream down her face.

 I halted midway and was frozen at my place. I was speechless after that. Then just like hers, I felt the tears started to fall from my eyes. Her words echoed in my mind and it seems like she just throws a dagger piercing into my heart.

It hurts. It f*****g hurts.

So that’s it? It’s the truth. I finally heard the truth I was seeking for. And this is the reason why I took the courage to escape the mansion and get home as soon as possible, right? To finally hear the answers. And she was able to tell me those words.  Everything my mom said was enough for me to be convinced about the deal.

To be honest, my strength is my family. They are the reason why I chose to face every challenge and to survive this world. Giving them a better life was the only goal of my life. But right now, it seems that I can't do that goal anymore. I do not wish a well-off life; I do not wish anything but be with my family. Because for me, having them and being with them means my wealth and happiness.

 But it seems that my mom wanted the opposite. The total opposite.

I was taken aback when I heard a series of steps coming from behind. I didn't even try to turn around to confirm who it was. The steps are getting louder and closer, and from where I am, I know that it is my father and my siblings. Maybe they have found out I got home already.

 Home. I smiled bitterly. Wait. Do I still have a home in this household?

 "M-Maria?" a trembled voice called from behind. I bit my lower lip upon hearing his voice. I don’t need to ask him regarding the reason why I am here, about the deal. Because of the way his voice trembled, I concluded that my father knows about it.

Fuck, what am I, a f*****g business?

 "Ria? You're finally here!" I heard my little brother's voice in glee, calling me using my nickname. I immediately wiped my tears away and smiled when he was finally in front of me. His wide smile greeted me. I bit my lower lip to stop myself from crying and tried my hardest to stop breaking down in front of him. I don’t know why but, maybe this will be the last time I will see him, the last time I will see his smiles.

 "H-hey Carlo," I squatted to level my eyes to him. He frowned when he stared at my face. Maybe he's wondering why my eyes are puffy right now.

 "Did you cry?" he asked innocently, his eyes full of wonders. I tried to c***k a genuine smile to him, but I end up grimacing. Instead of answering him, I pulled him close to me and gave him a tight hug. I immediately felt the warmth of his body. I will miss him...

After a couple of minutes, I was able to gather myself together. I stand up and immediately face my father but he averted his eyes when it met mine. It was the usual reaction of the person who’s done something they guilty of towards you.

I smiled bitterly. Well, do I have a choice to disobey them? After all, they're still my parents. And their topmost priority was the conformity of us all, always. That’s why I will try to understand. I will understand them because I love them. And maybe, there's a reason why they've done this to me... hopefully.

 "Why?" was the only question I was able to ask him.

 "Forgive u-us Riya," my father broke the stretched silence between us. He walks toward my direction, eating the distance between us. He stops when he’s inches away from me and continued speaking.

 "I was the one who borrowed some money from the Lancasters," he confessed. "Your brother was admitted to the hospital when you were still studying at the metropolis. The crops we harvested at our farm were not enough to pay the expenses in Carlo's admission. And the only choice we have was to pawn the farm to Mr. Lancaster at a high price. We thought we could pay it before the due time but it seems that luck was against us. The next season, the pests' attack started to destroy our crops. We weren't able to sell a thing because of what happened. We were able to make some money out of it and instead of paying it to the Lancaster's, Carlo was admitted again and we didn’t have a choice but to prolong the due. Our neighbors couldn’t offer some help, because most of them were also affected by the pests attack. Only the Lancasters offered us some help. We happily accepted it. Carlo's life was on the line. The old Lancaster understood our situation and said that we can pay anytime. But when he migrated and his son went home and found out about our debt, he immediately demanded the payment. But we couldn’t give any penny at all." he explained.

 I stayed in my position, too surprised at what my father had said. See, Maria? They have reasons why they've done this to you. Your brother’s life was on the line. They don't have any choice but to—I closed my eyes and tried to process what my father said to me. I have to fully accept and understand their reasons. 

You're not minor anymore; you're part of the problem of the family. You're part in solving it.

 I looked at my little brother who's innocently prying at us. I didn't know that he suffered when I was away. I knew that his heart was fragile. That's why we always take him with extra care. We didn’t want to lose him early. And if I had known this problem earlier, maybe I wasn’t here and asking for some questions. Maybe I had chosen to stop studying and started working to help with the hospital expenses. Carlo’s life was more important than my goals in my life.

 "I didn’t want you to know about his situation. I didn’t want to distract your study because of Carlo's admission to the hospital. I know how you love your brother Ria, that you would rather stop your studies just to help the family. I have known you, and you would have probably done that when you did know what was happening," he continued explaining.

My lips formed into a grim line since my father is right. I will really do it if I had known. I don't care about finishing my studies if Carlo is involved. Time isn’t a problem for my learnings, but for Carlo, I didn't know when will he… last?

 "But why did you use me as the payment? Am I not that... important to you? Don't you...love me?" the last words for almost whispered, I will be in pain if it is the truth.

 "No. No. No…" my father immediately denied as he shook his head. He grabbed my hand and immediately pulled me to hug me tightly. I sob. "Don't you ever…ever thought of that way," he said. I cried because of that. He broke the hug and held my shoulders, looking at me intently and with sincerity in my eyes.

 "A-Always remembers that you're a blessing that had given by above to us. Y-You will always be…" he said. It seems that he's denoting something in his words but I didn’t have the spare time to disclose it.

 He closed his eyes and sighed deeply. His gripped tighten on my shoulder. A few seconds later he opened his teary eyes and look at me.

 "It was too late when I found out that your mother agreed to the agreement. I was busy finding other ways to pay our debt to the Lancasters, but it seems that he did something dirty, that’s why we couldn’t pay to him. When I've known that your mother agreed to it, I tried to tell him to take everything from us. But he didn’t want anything. He only... " he swallowed hard before he finished his sentence. "...wanted you."

My eyes widen in surprise upon hearing that.

W-What?

Did I hear him right? The Lancasters wanted me? Did he want me as a payment? But why? What will he accomplish of having me?!

I didn’t take off my eyes from my father. Sorrow and guilt were visible in his eyes.

"If I could do something about our debt, Riya..." he whispered and in the end, he cried. He hugged me and whispered so many sorry about what we are facing right now. The only thing that I've done was to hug him back, tighter this time.

 What done is done. The only thing I could do for this family was to accept reality. In the end, it is my choice, and this choice will affect our family's welfare. It's either I chose to be selfish and be with them, but that decision will surely affect the way we lived or rather the way my siblings lived, or to sacrifice my freedom for my family. 

I let out a deep sigh. I've decided. I will go back to that mansion and respect the agreement. I would rather endure the pain it will cause me, instead of my family. I would sacrifice my freedom for them. I love them so much that I would rather choose their comfort instead of mine.

This is your share of sacrifice, Maria.  

"R-Riya..." I heard my mother's voice behind me.

 I pulled away from my father's hug and faced my mother. I bit my lower lip when I saw her teary eyes and moistened face. She quickly reached for me and hugged me and wailed on my shoulder. I bit my lower lip to stop me from crying, but to no avail, I couldn’t.

 "I-I didn’t have a choice, R-Riya. If I chose my pride and persistence, nothing will happen to us. We, too, will suffer in the end. We may not able to eat in a day, and I don't want that to happen especially that your brother is sick. If only I had a choice..." she explained while crying.

 I tried to understand their reasons. In the end, she was still thinking about the family's welfare. They have no other choice but to choose the easiest option for the problem. I understand and I will understand. I will sacrifice for this family, like what my mother did.

 I hugged and caressed her back.

 "I understand..." I whispered to her making her wailed for more. She said sorry countless times but I chose to stay silent. I felt someone hugged us after a couple of minutes. I cried again when I realized it was my father and my siblings.

God, I will miss them. And please, take care of them always.

 I wasn't able to track the time how long our drama lasted. I just saw myself talking to them and listening to their reasons and I love you's. When I thought that everything was fine, I cleared my throat and tried to smile at them.

 "I will go back to the mansion and fulfill the promise," I finally said when I gather myself up.

 "Where are you going R-Ria?" my little brother asked when he realized that I'm leaving.

 Ria. I'll miss that name.

 I squatted again in front of him and smiled.

 "Are you... going back to school? But its summer! You don't have school right? You don't—“

 I didn't let him finish his sentence when I hugged him again. I heard his sobs on my shoulder. I looked at my little sister who was also crying because of the situation. I know that she's getting what was happening right now. She's smart and without telling her all the details of the situation, she understands.

 I reached for her hand and pulled her close to me. I hugged her together with Carlo.

 "Take care of Carlo, Lara," I whispered to her. She nodded as she sobs. I smiled and hugged them for one last time.

 After a couple of minutes, I pulled away from them. But Carlo doesn't want to let me go. He hugged me tightly that it took my mother and father to pull him away from me.

 His wail reached every corner of our house. I cried at the sight that Carlo's trying to slip away from my parents' hold. Lara is crying beside my father. 

"Please always be safe, for me," I said to them.

 They nodded and I smiled bitterly. I looked at Carlo who's really trying to get away from my mother. My dad went after with me outside our house. He suggested escorting me to the Lancasters’ mansion but I refuse. They've mentioned the arrangements of the agreement. And one of that was I will go alone there. Maybe that's why mom ordered me to go there alone, carrying the proof of the deal.

 "Are you sure you're fine? The night is getting deep. I’m worried about what might happen to you," my dad asked again when the two of us are already outside the house.

 “I’m fine dad,” I said, assuring him.

 He took my hand and said goodbye. I bit my lower lip to stop myself from crying. For one last time, I hugged him tightly. Maybe... maybe this is the last time I will see him.

 I withdraw myself from him and chose to don't turn back as I stride away. I might choose my family and let the deal rives.

 The cold breeze danced my long hair as I walked again to the muddy road. I wipe away my tears and somehow, I was able to collect myself from that dramatic farewell. I didn’t know how I was able to find my way with these dark surroundings. I stopped walking for a few seconds and glance at the moon just above me. I close my eyes as I relish the silent surrounding. When was the last time I did this? I stayed there for how many seconds before I continued walking.

 Maybe I should think of the next things that will happen to me after the deal is done. What do the Lancasters want from me? Countless questions were forming inside my head that I didn’t notice my surroundings. When I heard and realized the noise, I stopped walking and tried to focus on the sounds coming from the woods.

 It wasn't just a simple noise that can be made by animals inside the woods; I can differentiate the sound of the steps of the animals from the humans. The sounds came from my left side. I couldn’t see anything except for the strands of moonlight trying to pierce at the darkness of the woods. Fear started to creep within me as the sound of steps grew louder and louder. I could now hear the rustles of leaves and breaking of twigs.

 It was too late when I realized that I was being followed. But by whom?

 I swallowed the lump in my throat because of the fear I'm feeling. I tried to calm myself but I failed.

 "Who's t-there?" I ask in fear in the middle of these silent woods. If I am right, I’m currently at a place where no houses could be found. This is a private property of the Lancasters, and no vehicles and passers-by can be found here unless someone has the reason to come here.

 When the sounds from the woods stopped, I decided to continue walking. But this time, my pace is faster than usual. And I don’t know why but I’m praying that somehow, I can finally arrive at the mansion premises to feel secured.

Again, I heard the sounds of the steps from the woods, but this time, I could hear it from both sides of the roads where the tall trees stood. It seems that I was being surrounded. Now, I had regretted the fact that I refused my father from escorting me back to the mansion. I thought I would be safe, but it seems that this day was an unlucky day for me.

 Later I realized that I was running already. Somehow, I felt relieved when I could already see the Lancasters gate yards away from me. I'm almost near but I stopped midway when an unknown creature came out from the woods, one by one.

 I blinked as I focused myself distinguishing what kind of creatures that are few yards away from me. At first, I thought they're just a bunch of dogs, trying to scare the hell out of me. But as I approached them and tried to figure out what kind of dogs they are, I noticed their differences from the ordinary dogs.

 Their built are much bigger than the usual, they're growling as they looked at my direction. It seems that if I continued approaching them, they will surely bite me to death. But one thing that caught my attention was their eyes... their blazing eyes.

 I frowned when I realized something. The eyes of the ordinary dogs don't blaze like that. It's not blazing in purple in the middle of the night unless that was a cause from the moon's light. I was still in the middle of confirming what kind of creatures are in front of me when I noticed that they're slowly approaching my direction. I stepped back because of that. I calmed myself and decided that maybe I should go back home and go back tomorrow morning with my parents?

 But to my surprise, when I turned around, a few numbers of the same creatures are found behind me. Now I am already surrounded!

 I swallowed hard in horror. What will I do now?! What are these creatures? By looking at them, I could tell that they're dangerous!

 This isn't good!

 I keep on looking from my left and right, trying to figure out what will I do next. I was also trying to find a way out and escape from these creatures. But the only choice I have was to enter the dark woods. I swallowed hard and look back at the creatures that are already attacking me. At the span of seconds, and maybe because of adrenaline, I found myself running for my life.

 I don't have the time to mind the scratch that the branches did to me; all I could think was to save myself. And thankfully, I could clearly see my way with the help of the moon's light.

 Those creatures started to howl like they're calling for something. They're chasing me and I could really tell they're already few feet away from me.

 Oh, gods! Please, could someone help and save her!

I didn’t know how long I was running. I was already catching my breath when I stopped running as I arrived in an open area inside the woods. In front of me was a high formation of rock. I could tell that it's hard to climb if I tried to and if I wanted to escape to those unknown creatures. I looked to my left and right trying to find an escape, but instead of finding one, it was too late because I was already surrounded by those creatures that bugged me when I heard their howls.

 It was there when I confirmed what kind of creatures they are, especially when one of them shapeshift into the form of a human.

My breathing hitch at the sight. The fear within me intensified.

So it wasn't just a rumor. They're true.

It was months ago when the rumor started that some people in this town witnessed that they exist. But nobody believed that thing. How come that their species exist in this town? In this generation? How come that these fictional creatures are here right now?

 "Werewolves…" I whispered as I looked at the seven of them hides from the shadows of the trees.

 They're growling, and are approaching me. To my panic, I grabbed anything I could find near me to defend myself. I saw a long branch of the tree and immediately grab that. I was getting nervous every second passed. I could hear the loud beat of my heart.

 "Don't come near me…" I threatened. I gripped the branch tighter when the werewolf who shapeshifted came out first from the shadows.

 His purple eyes are looking at me intently. A smirk was plastered on his face like he found something interesting. I swallowed hard. The remaining wolves continued to approach my direction at a slow pace. Their blazing purple eyes were fixed on me. I could see their sharp teeth from their open mouth.

 I gulped and blink again. How unfortunate. Is this my end? Will someone saw my dead body after this? But the question is, will there be any left of me if I became the dinner of these werewolves?

I grimaced when I could feel the pain from my body. I don't have the time to look at my condition.

 That's why I became vigilant when the first werewolf who shapeshifted attack me. I immediately smashed the branch to his body using my full strength causing him to be thrown away from where I was. I felt the victory for the first time but then the remaining wolves howled because of what happened.

 The next thing I knew, all of them tried to attack me. I didn't know how to protect myself and maybe, because of the fear I feel, I dropped the branch I was holding and shouted in fear.

 "Ahhhhh!"

 I closed my eyes and waited for their painful attacked.

 This is it. It seems that this was really my end. I remembered my family. Maybe, those goodbyes to my family are my last goodbye to them. How ironic. I thought I will suffer under the powers of the Lancasters. It seems that I met an unfortunate way to die. To be eaten by werewolves.

 I was waiting for them to attack me but it never came. Instead, I heard a groaned and cries of a hurt animal. Then I heard a wild growl just in front of me. I opened my eyes and tried to look at the being that was in front of me.

 I froze when I found a werewolf, this time, that’s facing the seven other wolves. I thought it was one of the wolves who chased me. I thought that he'll attack me but when I noticed the seven wolves retreating, I realized that this black wolf was trying to protect me from them.

 But why will a werewolf protect me?

 The wolves that chased me down retreated. The black wolf that saved me remained.  I didn’t know why but somehow, I was thankful. I was slightly surprised when the black wolf faced me, especially when he shapeshifted into human form.

 I know I've already witnessed the shapeshifting a while ago, but I was surprised again because of that. My heart raced again when I noticed him approaching me. I didn’t know what to do as he ate the distance between us. I saw the branch I used a while ago to protect myself. I was about to reach for it when in a span of seconds, it flew away from me.

 He kicked it! I didn't even realize that he's already in front of me! I was struck by surprise when the man squatted in front of me and stared deeply into my eyes. When our eyes met and saw his red eyes, that’s when I lost consciousness out of fear.